An Electrified (Literally) L.A. Auto Show

In 2006, a documentary asked, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" In 2013, electric was a hot topic at this year's Los Angeles Car Show. Many manufacturers showcased their hybrids, electrics and alternative fuel vehicles front and center. Among the cars on display: Volkswagen's eGolf electric car, Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive, the new Chevy Spark-EV and more.



According to the LA Times, "The VW is among four significant plug-in vehicle debuts at this year’s L.A. Auto Show. Elsewhere around the Los Angeles Convention Center, General Motors was scheduled to roll out the Cadillac ELR, based on the Chevrolet Volt; BMW showed off its i3 battery electric; and VW’s luxury division Audi rolled out a corporate cousin of the eGolf, the Audi A3 e-tron."



The Auto Show also continues to become even more family friendly, as most companies boasted games or other attractions on their floor. At Toyota, the Blogger Kids got to dress like 1980s-era b-boys and take a photo. At Kia, a live DJ performed on top of a tricked-out Soul. A few more pics:



Several booths also featured race car simulators.














The $1.1 million Youabian Puma, the one described as a "blue monstrosity" by the L.A. Times.

Also: Hyundai's sponsorship of "The Walking Dead" has spawned a limited edition vehicle. The SUV includes a zombie survival kit:



Here are a few pics from Hyundai's faux zombie apocalypse (sorry, these tricked-out mobiles aren't for sale):

Electricity in the Air and On the Floor at the LA Auto Show

It was all about electric cars, hybrids and fuel economy at this year's L.A. Auto Show, which just wrapped up on Sunday. We finally made it over to the Convention Center on Saturday night to take it all in, and it was truly a brave new world. Small is big, electric is electric and hybrids are the new norm.

All told, the Auto show boasted 17 vehicles that achieve 40+ miles per gallon, as well as 35 hybrids/plug-in hybrids, nine clean diesels, two alternative fuel vehicles (the Honda FCX Clarity and the Honda Civic Natural Gas) and eight electric cars (BMW i3, Coda Sedan, Ford Focus Electric, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi i, Nissan Leaf, Toyota RAV4 and DOK-ING XD).

Debuts included the Camaro Zl1 Convertible, the Ford Mustang Boss 302, the new Honda CR-V, and more.

The one downside: We spent money on the Convention Center's horrible, overpriced fare for dinner, only to discover food trucks outside once we left one of the two showroom floors. The L.A. Auto Show needs to do a better job explaining the food options.

But other than that, it was a great way to spend an evening with the kids. Some photos:


Prius plug-in hybrid prototype


Blogger Toddler 2.0 likes Mercedes-Benz's AMG Black Series


Coda all-electric car.


Smart cars.


Now we're getting pricy: Bentley's New Continental GTC.


The most expensive sticker we found on the floor: Bentley's Mulsanne, at just under $300,000.


Nissan Leaf.


I told the Blogger Toddler 2.0 about those J-Lo ads, and how she didn't really shoot them in the Bronx. The Toddler sighed.


Mitsubishi concept car loves Los Angeles.


Ford is pushing its Mustang hard -- big appearance in this week's "The Amazing Race." On the floor, this one's "Boss."


Sorry, Blogger Toddler 2.0. This is just a truck on display at the Ford booth. There are no fish tacos inside.


Attendees go for a test drive on the Ford floor.


Because we haven't let a video game console into the house yet, the Blogger Kid sneaks a play where ever he can -- here, at a Nintendo booth outside the Auto Show.

Tales of a Comic-Con Newbie

My first Comic-Con experience was perhaps different from most; moderating four -- yes, four -- panels ("Shameless," "Chuck," "Community" and "Charlie's Angels") made it baptism by fire. And having the big TV Guide Magazine presence (including a mini yacht behind the convention center) was quite nice as well. So yeah, this was exactly the way to do Comic-Con for the first time. And I had quite a blast.

Surreal moment: Standing by an escalator as Steven Spielberg and his entourage suddenly arrived. I whipped out my Blackberry camera, while photogs around me also shot pics of him. In turn, Spielberg whipped out his iPhone and began taking pictures of us. "Don't forget to tag me, Steven," shouted one paparazzi.

Disgusting moment: Opening a drawer in my hotel room (at Little Italy's Porto Vista Hotel) and finding a bag of Q-Tips and a big jar of foot cream. Um, gross?

Small world moment: Finishing up the "Community" panel and discovering that a college pal, Maggie Bandur, had just joined the show as a writer.

Emotional moment: Pulling off the final "Chuck" panel without a hitch, getting some real emotion out of star Zachary Levi, and riding high knowing that it all worked out. Whew.

Zinger moment: "Shameless" star Emmy Rossum was either offended, or feigned offense when I asked her the nudity question. "Emmy, I was actually referring to William H. Macy's ass," I responded.

Delicious moment: Biting the ear off a Yoda cookie made by the one and only JustJenn.

More from the floor:


Spielberg heads up the escalator.


Drinks, anyone?


Megan Mullally and Ken Marino chat about "Childrens Hospital."


Robot Chicken costume.


JustJenn's Yoda cookies.


It wouldn't be a Comic-Con without stormtroopers.


The Shreks.


He-Man.


One of two DeLoreans on the floor.


The other DeLorean.


South Park.


Inside South Park.


Legos.

Ted's Most Unexcellent Minnesota Adventure

I'm still stunned and angered at what happened to my Variety colleague Ted Johnson yesterday in Minnesota. Despite being a credentialed member of the media, reporting on a demonstration outside the Republican National Convention, police didn't make that distinction -- and hauled him (and other journalists) in with the protesters. He was charged with "presence at an unlawful assembly."

Unbelievable. My hat's off to Ted for covering the protest and apparently risking a police record in the process. Considering everything that happened, his post on the arrest was pretty calm and cool.

But after he had a chance to sleep on it, Ted woke up Friday morning a bit more steamed. As he should be. Ted writes:

I've had a chance to reflect a bit on the insanity of journalists being arrested for just doing their job, which was to cover a genuine story at the Republican National Convention.

Our charge was "presence at an unlawful assembly," which is described in part by Minnesota state statute as refusal to leave the scene when ordered to do so. As I stated in my earlier post, I never heard such an order given, nor did any of the journalists I was with. We were trying to get away from the line of fire of smoke bombs and flash grenades, and eventually fled to the Marion Street bridge, which looked like the only option out. It was there that we were informed that everyone was under arrest.

There's still no answer to the question of why journalists, fully identified by their credentials, were detained, booked and processed, their means of reporting taken away. It was a story that the news media had a right to cover whether or not the protest permit ended at 5 p.m., or whether police gave an order sometime after that. We were covering the story, we were not the story. It gives me a new, hardened and more cynical perspective on the security state that we are in, and how it is being used to justify what are ultimately restrictions on press freedom.

Freedom of the press, 2008.

Primetime -- Sorta -- For Villaraigosa At the Democratic Convention

A lot has been made of the fact that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa won't have a major presence at this week's Democratic Convention. (I suppose his whole separation and dalliance with ex-Telemundo reporter Mirthala Salinas wasn't the kind of image they wanted to portray in primetime -- particularly post-John Edwards.)

Still, da mayor got some primo primetime face time on Tuesday night thanks to his strategic seat -- behind President Clinton, who seemed to be having a good time watching Hillary go attack McCain. ("No way, no how, no McCain." Brilliant.)